OEB 51: The Biology and Evolution of Invertebrate Animals (2009 – present)

Instructors: Cassandra Extavour, Gonzalo Giribet

Lectures: MWF 9:00 – 10:15

Labs: W, 3:00 – 6:00

An introduction to invertebrate diversity. This course will emphasize the development, adult anatomy, biology and evolutionary relationships of the main animal phyla including sponges, mollusks, annelids and arthropods. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the similarities and differences in embryonic development, the broad diversity of animal forms and their adaptations to different ecosystems, and how these phenomena shape animal evolution. The aim of this course is to understand animal diversity from a phylogenetic perspective as well as from a developmental and functional morphology point of view, and to be able to put in context general concepts such as body layers, coeloms, ground patterns, and their roles in animal evolution. Lectures will be complemented with a mandatory weekly lab and a field trip to different areas of outstanding marine diversity in Panamá.

Course iSite

Download recent course syllabus.

See pictures of the Panamá field trips. The class goes to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Bocas del Toro.

Read the feature article on student enthusiasm for the teaching of Profs. Extavour and Giribet in OEB51.